Lyn Cherop Mengich is the no-nonsense chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
She was appointed to the role in September 2018 by former president Uhuru Kenyatta, replacing Sarah Serem, who had served at the SRC helm for 6 years.
As she marks five years in office next September, WoK takes a look at her academic qualifications and career milestones.
A Trailblazing Career
Before becoming the SRC chairperson, Mengich served as the CEO of her Startup, Nuevo Consulting Ltd, a HR and management consultancy.
Her journey toward her current position has been paved with a solid foundation of academic achievements.
She graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, which laid the groundwork for her understanding of human behavior and organizational dynamics.
She also holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management, an Executive Development Program from Cornel University, and is an alumnus of the Strathmore Business School and the IESE Business School in Spain.
She has over 25 years of experience working in private and public sectors in Kenya and across Africa.
She has previously worked as HR director for KCB and ABSA, a talent manager for Shell and Unilever as well as a board member at KCA University, Jamii Bora bank, and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Controversy
Despite her accomplishments, Mengich has been no stranger to controversy and opposition.
In 2020, she made headlines when then-President Uhuru Kenyatta referred to her as “Wewe mama”.
In the incident, which happened at Statehouse Mombasa, Uhuru paused his speech to ask why security officers had not been paid their field allowances.
“Sasa wewe Mama tulisema hawa watu wapatiwe field allowance mnakataa kuwapatia kwanini?” posed the head of state.
Although her response was not captured on microphone, Ms Mengich was understandably embarrassed by the president’s utterance.
She has also found herself on the receiving end of MPs’ wrath after removing some of the perks they were enjoying under Sarah Serem’s reign.
In 2019, she was the center of a tussle between the SRC, which she heads, and the Parliamentary service commission, about a housing allowance that the MPs had awarded themselves and backdated it.
Mengich protested the allowances in court and they were scrapped off. In retaliation, the MPs awarded themselves night allowances.
Perched in her six-floor office at Williamson’s House in Nairobi, the watchful Mengich opposed the sneaky move and threatened to head to court should it be passed.
In turn, the furious legislators threatened to slash SRC’s budget and limit its operations.
Unlike her predecessor, Sarah Serem, who would back down every time parliament threatened her with budgetary cuttings, Mengich stood her ground while explaining the constitutional mandate of the SRC.
That was when the MPs went personal. Some of them, such as Naomi Shaban, accused Mengich of harboring grudges against the MPs.
Shaban accused Mengich of disrespecting and insulting the legislators by denying them hefty allowances.
In 2022, the tussle reemerged when the MPs grilled Mengich for hours over her decision to scrap off the MPs’ sh 5000 plenary sitting allowance and imposing restrictions on the engine sizes of their vehicles.
Despite warnings from the Central Bank about the harsh economic times in the country and the strain that unnecessary allowances were straining the National budget, the MPs persisted in their quest for fatter perks.
They taunted Mengich, saying that she would learn a hard lesson like her predecessor Sarah Serem.
Embakasi MP Babu Owino threatened to table a motion in parliament to cut the SRC budget by half and demanded a hefty mileage allowance for Nairobi MPs.
However, Ms Mengich stood her ground and urged the MPs to take up the matter with the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
In a past interview with Business Daily, Ms Mengich, whose hobbies are playing golf and reading, advised younger women to take charge of their lives and careers, face challenges, and seek advice wherever needed.
